The National tribune., 1887-05-05
THE PRESIDENT AND THE NATIONAL
ENCAMPMIrNT.


Louis TO secure the presence Of President
Cleveland at the National Encampment
We are sure that we voice the almost
unanimous wish Of the GAR. when we ex-
press the earnest hope that these efforts shall
not succeed.
The reasons why his presence is not de-
sirable are numerous and strong.
Among them his vetos are very powerful
one. We do not yean 10 kiss the hand that
smote us His presence al that grand assem-
bage Of veterans and their friends would
not fail TO have many unpleasant effects,
which would mar the success Of the Eneamp-
meni, and be injurious to the best interests
OF the Order.
A less weighty but still all-suficient res-
son is that il would be unwise and wrong TO
foist upon the National Encampment the
CHATTER, distraction and "hurrah Of Presi-
dental visit IL is impossible TO exagger-
ate the disturbance and friction that would
result from this.
The GAR of the Nation has accepted
the invitation Of the city of ST. Louis TO
meet within her borders the last three days
of September Those days are &c be devoted
wholly to the transaction of the business OF
the Order to the Reunion of comrades and
their families who will gather in from all
over the country, and TO the entertainment
Of the visitors by the people of the city.
1t is TO be pre-eminenty Grand Army
occasion, with that idea uppermost every
where and all the time The throngs
which will crowd the incoming trains the
streets, the hotels, and the places Of public
resort viii be made up Of veterans and their
relatives, or those who will have a warm
interest in the men who fought the war
through and preserved the Nations life. As
a rule those who have no sympathy with
these win stay away from the city, or at
least take no part in the proceedings. The
street decorations viii be military, patriotic
and fraternal All the surroundings will be
pervaded with the same spirit IL Tds upon
this understanding By de G.A.R. that the
inritdtiOn nas accepted.
To bring the President there viii at once
clip the National Encampment Of its right
ful pre-eminenoe on those days and force a
division Of honors. IL viii introduce jars
aud discords where there should be harmony
and unity. Avery large portion Of the people
of ST. Louis, and Of the surrounding country
in Missouri, Kentucky, Arkansas and Tennes-
see were warm sympathizers with secession,
and consequently are indifferent OF hostile
70 the GAR On the other hand they are
friends and supporters of the President, and
would not want 70 allow his visit TO pass
without making more or les enthusiastic and
significant demonstrations While this would
be proper enough at any other time il would
be exceedingly undesirable during the ses-
sion of the National Encampment IL will jar
upon the most calloused senses TO see partizan
and political decorations mingling with the
GAR. emblems along the streets. 1t viii
be still more unpleasant 10 have the Posts
and Departments 10 compete for accommo-
dations at the hotels with political clubs,
and to have the grand review Of the COM
rades forced 10 share the right of way with
procession organized in honor Of the Presi-
dent. No matter how good the management,
or how abundant the precautions, there
would be an amount Of friction result from
this which would greatly endanger the sue
cess of the Encampment.
We have no political animus in this. We
should oppose the presence of any other
President on precisely the same grounds, es-
pecislly when, as in this case, the visit is
made on the eve of a Presidential campaign,
and it win he very difficult preventing incl
dents of the visit taking political cast.
If the people Of St. Louis are very anxious
for visit from Mr.. Cleveland, let them en-
terrain him before or after the Encampment
when they can devote their whole time
and energies TO him. No city is big
enough for National Encampment and o
Presidential ovation at one and the same
time. The royal entertainment Of the En-.
campment by San Francisco last year rem.
ders it all the more necessary that st. Loui'
shall not risk injurious comparisons by
dividing her inequalities.
Heretofore the National Encampment hal
been the main and sole guest Of the city
which undertook it's entertainment Their,
have been no counter-attractions or side
shows Ii has not been made a tender Il
an agricultural fair, horserace, or an inter
national ball match. Nor have these been
tender TO il. The main business Of the cit,
for the time being has been the GAR; tn
Commander-in-Chief has been the ranking
dignitary present, and none have partici
pated in any way but those who served il
the army or navy, or had strong interest an,
affiliations with those who did